Daily Inspiration: Meet Dhiraj Adhikari

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dhiraj Adhikari

Hi Dhiraj, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I was young, I’ve been passionate about photography and videography. But before I dive into my story, I must mention my grandmother. She was one of the early Christians in Nepal, and as a result, I was brought up in a strong Christian environment. When I was in eighth grade, my father got a scholarship to attend a seminary school in India, and we all moved with him while he studied there. We lived in family housing within the seminary grounds, which allowed me to spend considerable time with older, well-educated individuals from an early age. It was during this period that I discovered the compelling nature of storytelling through visuals and decided to pursue a career in filmmaking.

After returning to Nepal, I was eager to begin my filmmaking career but faced numerous obstacles. I lacked the financial means to buy equipment, had no internet access or computers, and couldn’t afford to go to a Film School. Despite these challenges, I worked very hard and did various jobs to save money and build networks, and over time I was able to buy a camera and computer. Gradually, I secured various jobs, collaborated with well-known figures in Nepal, and received multiple awards and nominations based on my experience, despite not having a formal education. Realizing the importance of formal training, I started searching for education opportunities abroad since there weren’t many options in Nepal. Eventually, after years of prayers, trials, and errors, I was finally accepted at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to study Film and Video Production.

In 2015, I arrived in the United States as an international student from Nepal, shortly after a devastating earthquake that struck my homeland, claiming around 7,000 lives. I doubted my ability to make it to the U.S., but by God’s grace and His faithfulness, I eventually made it.

When I arrived in the United States, I had only $200 with me. That was everything I had. During my first week, I was kicked out of my apartment and had nowhere to stay. Life in the U.S. was extremely difficult; I faced financial challenges and struggled to pay my tuition fees. Fortunately, I found a host family and managed to gather enough funds for my education. Over two years at CU, I formed many connections, took part in film competitions, and won several awards. I also had the opportunity to travel to Nepal a few times to film a documentary. Gradually, things began to improve. During my internship, I worked at both a church and a production company. Eventually, I graduated from CU in 2019, got married, and have since been living in GR with my wonderful wife and son, working as a Visual Media Director at Unison Christian Church.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey wasn’t easy. As I indicated earlier, it was an incredibly bumpy ride for me.

Affording a Film School was a challenge, coming from an average middle-class family, with my father as a pastor, and a limited income. It took me several years to finally make it to the United States and many more years to where I am today.

Thinking back, arriving in the States with only $200 to study for five years seems quite foolish now. Everything was new and leaving everything behind and starting a new life in the States was extremely difficult. Maintaining humility in such a situation was a challenge.

Being evicted from my dorm just a week after my arrival was terrifying.

Being so far from family and trying to focus on studies amidst financial strain was overwhelming and stressful.

It wasn’t easy to integrate into the community, and learning to work in teams, and communicating ideas was tough. Learning new trends and workflows, building new connections, and on top of all that, dealing with all the paperwork wasn’t enjoyable at all.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently working as a Visual Media Director at Unison Christian Church here in Grand Rapids.

I am a Video shooter, editor, and a photographer. Professionally certified camera operator, video editor, motion graphic artist, and advanced color grader

I graduated from Cornerstone University and was honored with the Media Program Award, in 2019. Won the “Best Cinematographer” award at the Grand Rapids 24 Hours Film Festival in 2017 and was the cinematographer of a student film that won the “Best School” award at the Grand Rapids 36 Hours Film Festival in 2019. I have directed, shot, and edited over 200 music videos and was nominated as the “Best Director” and “Best Editor” in Nepal’s biggest music award event, in 2019. My work has over 4.5 Million views on YouTube and my official YouTube channel has over 39K subscribers. I have shot and edited a full-feature documentary, multiple mini-documentaries, short films, promotional videos, and many more.

Quality work, contribution to the community, and honesty set me apart from others.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I aim to establish my own film company in the United States to help people share their stories of hope. I firmly believe that each of us has a unique narrative that deserves to be shared with the world. Additionally, I seek to act as a bridge between creatives, filmmakers, and content creators from both the U.S. and Nepal, fostering collaboration and mutual learning. As I always say, film represents culture, and we should exchange and learn from each other’s ideas and traditions to make our world a better place.

Lastly, I am committed to giving back to the community that has contributed so much to my growth and success, helping me reach my current position. While my journey is ongoing, I remain dedicated to offering support and gratitude to the community that has uplifted me.